Gate-latch



L. MAGEE.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION HLED AUG.8, 1919.

Patentad May 25, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE.

LEROY MAGEE, OF COLLINS, MISSISSIPPI.

GATE-LATCH.

Application filed August 8.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY Manna, a citlzen of the United States, residing at Collins, in the county of Covington and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to latches for gates and the primary object of the invention is to provide an' improved latch embodylng a minimum number of parts which will effectively hold the gate against movement and which can bereadily operated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved means for slidably mounting the latch upon the gate, so that displacement thereof is absolutely prevented.

A. further object of the invention is the provision of a vertically slidable keeper mounted upon the gate post and arranged in the path of the free end of the latch bar, which is rigidly carried by the gate, the keeper being so arranged as to be forced upwardly by the latch bar during the closing movement of the gate and so arranged as to prevent the opening movement of the gate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved gate latch of the above character, which is durable and efli' cient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one that can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a gate showing the improved latch applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the latch.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the latch in its raised position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 generally indicates the improved latch, which includes the latch bar 2 rigidly secured to the gate post 6 by suitable fastening elements 4.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May as, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 316,157.

The gate 3 is connected by suitable hinges to the gate post in the ordinary manner. The outer end of the latch bar 2 projects to the inner face of the gate and is adapted to be engaged by the keeper 5, which is secured to the inner face of the gate 6. The keeper 5 includes the substantially U-shaped member 7, slidably mounted in an angle bracket 8 rigidly secured as at 9 to the forward edge of the gate 6. The horizontal portion of the angle bracket 8 has rigidly secured thereto the guide bars 10, which are held in spaced parallel relation with the horizontal portion of the keeper by means of a bolt 11 having the spacing collars 12 mounted around the same. zontal portion of the bracket 8 are provided with alined openings 13, which slidably receive the legs 14 of the U-shaped member 7. Suitable spacing collars 15 are also mounted between the bars 10 and the keeper and the same are arranged in direct alinement with-the openings 1.3 and slidably receive the legs 14 of the keeper. The legs 14 of the keeper 7 extend above the bars 10 and are rigidly connected together by means of a plate 16, which is provided with suitable openings 16 for receiving the legs of the keeper. The plate 16 is held against displacement by means of nuts 17 engaging the upper and lower faces of the plate 16, and these nuts are turned on the legs 14 of the keeper. A suitable operating handle 17 is secured to the upper surface of the plate 16 and forms means whereby the keeper may be readily raised and lowered. are loosely mounted on the legs of the keeper between the bars 10 and the plate 16 and form means for limiting the downward movement of the keeper in relation to the angle bracket 8. The bight portion 20 of the U-shaped keeper is inclined downwardly and rearwardly toward the rear leg thereof to form a retaining shoulder 21 engaging the outer face of the rigid latching bar 2. As clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the keeper is arranged in spaced relation to the vertical portion of the keeper 8 a suflicient distance to snugly receive the latch bar 2 and when the keeper is in its lowered'position, movement of the gate is absolutely prevented.

l/Vhen the gate is closed, it will be'seen that the upper surface of the rigid latch bar 2 will engage the inclined bight portion 20 of the keeper and force the same upwardly The bars 10 of the hori- Y Collars 15 1 and when the keeper has ridden past the same and into engagement with the bracket 8, the keeper will fall to its lowered position and hold the gate against opening movement. WVhen it is desired to open the gate it is merely necessary to grasp the hand grip 17 and pull the keeper upwardly above the gate latch bar 2.

From the foregoing description, it'can be seen that an improved gate latch is provided which is easy to operate and contains a minimum number of parts and will effectively prevent swinging movement of the gate, when the same is in its closed position.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is most effioient and practical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire toemphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as set forth.

lVhat I claim as new is:

1. In a gate latch of the class described, a keeper including a supporting bracket, a U-shaped member slidably mounted in said bracket, means for limiting the downward movement of said U-shaped member, the

bight portion of said U-shaped member be P ing inclined downwardly and forwardly toward one end thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a swinging gate and gate post, of a latch therefor including a rigid 40 latch bar secured to the gate post, an angle bracket secured to the outer face of the gate, a U-shaped member slidably carried by said bracket and arranged in the path of said keeper, means for limiting the downward tion of the bracket having alined openings formed therein, spacing collars arranged between the bar and horizontal portion of the bracket and arranged in direct alinement with the openings, a U-shaped keeper having its legs slidably mounted in said openings and spacing collars, a plate rigidly connecting the upper terminals of the legs, means mounted on said legs and engaging the plate and bar to limit the down ward movement of the keeper, an operating handle carried by said bar, the keeper having the bight portion thereof inclined down wardly toward the inner leg thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. LEROY MAGEE.

Witnesses:

Roy GRANT LOGAN, I RoBnR'r H. WATKINS. 

